Portable self-locking clamp



All@ 1, 1950 H. c. scHEr-'FER Er AL 2,517,034

PORTABLE SELF-LOCKING CLAMP Filed De'o. 25. 1946 Inventar #4H/Pr c. mf/ff# Nasa/v E LAMBERT By @Mmm @d/away m Patented Aug. 1, 1950 i 'UNITD Asrli'rflazs PATENT OFFICE Harry C. Scheffer and NelsonE. Lambert, Union Deposit-Pa.

Application December 23, 1946, Serial No. 717,914

The present invention relatesto new and useful improvements in clamping devices andmore particularly to a portable self-locking clamp whereby the act of clamping together two or more objects may be effected in an easy and rapid manner.

More specically, the invention embodies a substantially U-shaped jaw between the sides of which the work is positioned and providing a pivoted handle at one end of the jaw and constructed in the form of a cam to bear against one side of the work to lock the work in position in the jaw.

Another object of the invention is to provide a roller at the cam edge of the handle to facilitate movement of the cam into and out of locking engagement.

A still further object is to provide a device of this character of simple and practical construction, which is efcient and reliable in operation, relatively inexpensive to manufacture, and otherwise well adapted for the purposes for which the same is intended.

Other objects and advantages reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts through, and in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view with parts broken away and shown in section.

Figure 2 is a view in elevation showing the cam edge of the handle. and

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on a line 3-3 of Figure 1.`

Referring now to the drawings in detail wherein for the purpose of illustration we have disclosed a preferred embodiment of the invention the numeral 5 designates a substantially U- shaped jaw having an adjusting screw 6 threaded transversely through one end of the jaw, the screw being provided with a wing nut 'l at its outer end.

The other end of the jaw is formed with a reduced extension 8 which is pivoted adjacent the front end of a handle 9, the pivoted end of the jaw projecting laterally from one side of the handle.

The front or outer end 9 of the handle is of substantially rectangular shape and with one longitudinal edge of said outer end offset from the longitudinal axis of the handle to form a cam edge IU, adapted to bear against one side of the work II while the adjusting screw 6 bears against the opposite side of the work when the work is positioned in the jaw 5.

i claims. (ci. 245248) Theforward inner corner of the handle 9 is bifurcated as shown at I'Z and provided with a transversely extending pin I3 on which a roller I4 is journalled, one edge of the roller projecting beyond the adjacent corner of the handle. The roller is positioned forwardly of the pivoted end 8 of the jaw 5 as shown in Figure 1 of the drawings, whereby upon a movement of the inner end I5 of the handle away from the work the roller I4 will travel along the work inwardly beyond the center line of the pivoted end 8 of the jaw to free the cam edge I Il from the work and when the inner end I5 of the handle is moved inwardly toward the work the roller I4 will travel along the work outwardly beyond the pivot 8 of the jaw to thus lock the cam edge Ill in clamping position against the work.

The cam edge I0 is provided with a set screw I6 having its outer end projecting outwardly bcyond the cam edge Ill to provide an adjustable cam edge for clamping engagement with the work.

The reduced extension 8 ofthe jaw 5 is removably pivoted in the handle 9 to permit separation of the jaw from the handle for storing or shipping in a compact form.

'Ihe rear end I5 of the handle is oiiset outwardly as shown at I'I to provide a finger gripping portion which prevents squeezing of the iingers against the work when the handle is moved inwardly into clamping engagement with the Work.

We claim:

1. A clamp of the class described comprising a U-shaped jaw between the ends of which the work is received, a handle pivoted at one end of the jaw, a cam structure at one edge of the handle adjacent its pivoted end for clamping engagement with the work, and an adjustable screw projecting from the cam edge of the handle to bear against the work.

2. A clamp of the class described comprising a U-shaped jaw between the ends of which the work is received, a handle having a substantially rectangular shaped outer end portion onset from one side of the handle and pivoted to one end of the jaw, said offset end portion of the handle forming a cam for clamping engagement with the work, and a roller at the outer end of said oiset end portion for traveling against the work, said roller being positioned outwardly past the center line of the pivot when the handle is moved toward the work to lock the handle in clamping position.

. 3. A clamp of the class described comprising a U-shaped jaw between the ends of which the work is positioned, an adjusting screw carried at one end of the jaw for engaging one side of the work, a handle pivoted at the other end of the jaw for swinging about the axis of said last named end, said handle having a cam edge oiset from one longitudinal axis of the handle for clamping against the other side of the work, a roller journalled on the cam edge of the handle forwardly of the pivotal connection of the jaw for movement outwardly past the center line of the pivot to lock the handle in its clamping position, and an adjustable member on said cam edge disposed rearwardly of said pivot to engage the work when the handle is in clamping position.

4. A clamp of the class described comprising a U-shaped jaw between the ends of which the work is positioned, a handle pivoted at one end of the jaw, said handle having a cam portion offset from the longitudinal axis of the handle for clamping against the work, a roller journaled 20 at the outer forward edge of the offset cam portion and forward of the pivot of the handle for movement outwardly past the center line of the pivot when the handle is moved into its clamping position, and a set screw on said cam portion disposed rearwardly of said pivot to engage the work, adjustment of the set screw accomplishing adjustment of the effective angle of the cam portion when the handle is moved so that said roller and said set screw are both engaging the work.

HARRY C. SCHEFFER. NELSON E. LAMBERT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED vSTATES PATENTS- Number Name Date 267,093 Livingston Nov. 7, 1882 558,509 Maddleton Apr. 21, 1896 '102,334` Schule' etal June 10, 1902 1,194,943 `Broling Aug, 15,1191'6 1,557,396 Ayres et al Oct- 13, 1925 

